Legislators demand probe into House bribe scandal
Legislators demand probe into House bribe scandal
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Politicians are calling for police to investigate bribery
allegations rocking the House of Representatives and the
Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) in connection with
the planned sale of Bank Niaga.
The secretary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction in
the House, Amin Said Husni, and Indira Damayanti Sugondo of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said an
inquiry was needed to highlight any criminal acts.
"The police must be proactive in a carrying out an inquiry
into this case because there is strong resistance from the House
to clarify this matter," Indira told The Jakarta Post by phone on
Sunday.
Amin concurred and said a police investigation could be
conducted simultaneously with the House establishing a honor
council to deal with the case.
A honor council would deal with the political aspect, while
the police inquiry would serve the legal aspect, he said.
"This case has tarnished the House, that is why we need legal
action," Amin added.
Both legislators were commenting on alleged US$1000 bribes
offered to legislators on House Commission IX for finance and
banking affairs in connection with the proposed sale of 51
percent of Bank Niaga.
The alleged bribe was first unveiled by Indira and fellow PDI-
Perjuangan legislator Meliono Suwondo who revealed they had been
offered $1,000 by IBRA officials but refused it.
IBRA officials admitted offering the money but said it was to
ensure the sale process ran smoothly.
Kwik Kian Gie, chief of PDI Perjuangan's Center for Research
and Development, said that some legislators of his party were
allegedly involved in forcing other legislators to take the
bribes.
The House has been telling IBRA that it will agree to sell
Bank Niaga if the value is two times bigger than its book value.
Sole bidder Malaysia-based Commerce Asset-Holding Bhd has offered
Rp 26.5 per share.
Although the value is bigger than IBRA's expectation of Rp
24.8, that is only 1.45 times the book value. The negotiation
that had been proceeding in the past two years, prompted IBRA to
offer a bribe.
Indira said she would possibly receive much more money if she
accepted the offer.
She added that the issue of bribes in the House was not new,
but unfortunately no action had been taken to deal with the evil
practice.
State Audit Agency (BPK) Satrio Budihardjo Joedono also called
on police to probe the scandal.
He added the police could quickly handle the case because
there were some legislators who had confessed.
"If we find irregularities in state finance, we report to
police. In this alleged bribe case, it has been revealed so the
police can handle this matter," he was quoted by Antara as
saying.
Political analyst and a member of the General Elections
Commission (KPU) Hamid Awaluddin shared a similar opinion.
"The police should take the initiative in this case. The House
should also set up a committee of ethics to deal with corrupt
practices," Hamid told the Post.
Earlier, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien
Rais and convicted-fraudster Akbar Tandjung, the speaker of the
House of Representatives, expressed agreement with a police
inquiry.
Police have so far taken no action.